# Aretha Franklin, R.I.P **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [August 16, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730 "2018-08-16T14:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/1 "2018-08-16T14:10:15Z")
Daydreamin’ is the song that I always have to repeat when it comes up on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/2 "2018-08-16T14:13:09Z")
[Link here](https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/8/16/17683028/aretha-franklin-obituary) Not unexpected, but still extremely sad. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/3 "2018-08-16T14:13:50Z")
And so passes another giant. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/4 "2018-08-16T14:14:16Z")
_Chain of Fools_ has long led off my road CD. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/5 "2018-08-16T14:24:29Z")
I loved her in Blues Brothers… so sassy, so strong. Love _Think_. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/6 "2018-08-16T14:36:51Z")
When is the viewing, I want to pay my R - E - S - P - E - C - T - (s). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/7 "2018-08-16T14:37:43Z")
She was the very best. Saw her perform live, never heard anything like that before or since. The world has lost it’s greatest voice. Peace be with your amazing soul Aretha. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/8 "2018-08-16T14:39:15Z")
RIP Aretha and thank you for sharing your wonderful gift with the world. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/9 "2018-08-16T15:52:54Z")
She’d been in failing health for several years. I saw her in concert in 2014 and she looked like hell. Towards the end of the show she was gasping and wheezing and barely able to complete the performance. And she was clearly frustrated over it. At several points she had to sit down on a chair because it was too taxing to stand. I saw Isaac Hayes in '04. He too had problems and cut his show in half. Some of you might remember my review of a [Kenny Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=765423) concert. I think it’s just the drive and determination that these types of people have that they push themselves past their prime. A character strength that accounts for them being so successful in the first place. I hope her continuing to entertain us didn’t contribute to her demise. RIP ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/10 "2018-08-16T16:01:56Z")
She always kept working on improving herself and her voice. Her she is at the age of 73, filling it for Pavarotti at the Oscars: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gCuyrKVDCs) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/11 "2018-08-16T16:09:49Z")
As she passed through the pearly gates, one of the first people she saw on the other side was George Michael. And she cracked, “Yeah I knew you were…” RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/12 "2018-08-16T16:12:32Z")
R.e.s.p.e.c.t. R.i.p. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/13 "2018-08-16T16:15:30Z")
Blasting Think right now for my kids. ETA: And now A Change is Gonna Come. _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/14 "2018-08-16T16:15:31Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > As she passed through the pearly gates, one of the first people she saw on the other side was George Michael. And she cracked, “Yeah I knew you were…” > > RIP. Don’t get the reference…was there some special connection between her and George Michael? RIP, Aretha. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/15 "2018-08-16T16:17:56Z")
Sad, but she has left behind an epic body of work. I had “[baby I love you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xoagkpi5B4Q)” come up on my mix just yesterday. Glorious stuff, you just know she meant every word of it. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/16 "2018-08-16T16:20:37Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Don’t get the reference…was there some special connection between her and George Michael? > > RIP, Aretha. [I Knew You Waiting (for Me)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBCWLhlJV0Y) - duet between Aretha and George Michael. It was, I believe, her last big chart hit, reached #2 on Billboard in '87. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/17 "2018-08-16T16:21:27Z")
#2 hit, and I don’t remember ever hearing it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/18 "2018-08-16T16:22:02Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Don’t get the reference…was there some special connection between her and George Michael? > > RIP, Aretha. RIP to a voice that lifted us up and laid us down. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/19 "2018-08-16T16:33:11Z")
And Matt “Guitar” Murohy, who played her husband in “The Blues Brothers” passed in June. Damn, I’m getting old. Heres’ “Think” from the aforementioned movie: [Aretha Franklin - Think (feat. The Blues Brothers) - 1080p Full HD - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vet6AHmq3_s) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730/20 "2018-08-16T16:54:11Z")
R.I.P. Aretha. Long live the Queen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-r-i-p/819730.md?page=2)